News

Groups from all over the country were brought together to launch the Catholic Bishops’ Conference mental health work grants for 2018.

Bishop Richard Moth of Arundel and Brighton, Lead Bishop for Mental Health, hosted the event, held on 21 February, alongside Steph MacGillivray who is the coordinator of the Catholic Mental Health Project.

Participants met in the Archdiocese of Southwark for an informal afternoon tea to discuss their work and to network with others. The organisations awarded mental health grants work across the country with people with a wide range of needs.

Grants from the mental health project are small sums that often assist in the purchase or production of resources, or the training of volunteers or part-time staff. One such grant was given to the Diocese of Menevia, Wales. The funding will help train Catholics to be befrienders of those with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Another grant recipient aims to gather together a group of volunteers to provide practical and emotional support to the families of prisoners.

The launch event was a great success and gave the group representatives an opportunity to promote their causes and engage in each others’ work. Bishop Moth gave his thanks to these individuals and extended this thanks to the many volunteers that assist in Catholic mental health support across the country.